F 



SK^a^OM 



OF 



-<DUNBARTON.I> 



NEW HAMPSHIRE. 



BY IVIISS ELLA IVlILLS. 



MANCHESTER, N. H. 

NIANCHESTER HISTORIC ASSOCIATION, 

10O2. 




Class P4-4 



Book. 



J7^ \'U 



SK^^roi-i 



OF 



-<DUNBARTON> 



NEW HAMPSHIRE. 



BY IVLISS ELLA NIILLS. 



IVlANCHESTER, N. H. 
MA-NCHESXER HISTOFtlC ASSOCIATION, 

ieo2. 



Sketch of Dunbarton, N. H. 



BY ELLA MILLS. 



Dunbarton is a town " set upon a hill which cannot be hid." 
The highest point of land is on the farm of Benjamin Lord, 
north of the Center, and is 779 feet above the sea level. From that 
spot, and from many other places nearly as high, the views of 
hills and mountains are beautiful and grand beyond description. 

The twin Uncanoonucs are near neighbors on the south, 
INIonadnock, farther off on the south-west, and Kearsarge twenty 
miles to the north west. On the northern horizon are seen 
Mount Washington and other peaks of the White Mountains. 

The longest hill in town is the mile-long Mills hill, and mid- 
way on its slope live descendants of Thomas Mills, one of the 
first settlers. Among other hills are Duncanowett, HammDnd, 
Tenney, Grapevine, Harris, Legache, and Prospect Hills. 

No rivers run through the town, but there are numerous 
brooks where trout fishing is pursued with more or less success. 

No body of water is large enough to be called a lake, but 
Gorham Fond is a beautiful sheet of water and on its banks 
picnics are held. Stark's and Kimb.iU's Ponds have furnished 
water power for mills, the latter, owned by Willie F. Paige, 
is still in use. Long Pond, in the south part of the town, was 
the scene of a tragedy in 1879, when Moses Merrill, an officer 
at the State Industrial School, Manchester, was drowned in an 
ineffectual attempt to save an inmate of that institution. 

One portion of the south part of the town is called Skeeter- 
boro, another Mountalona, so named by James Rogers, one of 
the first settlers, from the place in Ireland from whence he 



2 MANCHESTER HISTORIC COLLECTIONS. 

came.^ East of the Center is Guinea, so called because some 
negroes once lived there. The village of North Dunbarton is 
also called Pajje's Corner ; and not far away to the eastward is 
a hill known as Onestack, because one large stack of hay stood 
there for many years. A brook bears the same name. 

Those who know Dunbarton only in the present can hardly 
realize that 1450 people ever lived there at one time, but that 
was the census in 1820. The first census, taken 1767, was 
271. In 1840 it was 1067 ; in 1890, only 523. 'J'he last census 
gave about 575. 

The first settlement was made in 1740^ by James Rogers and 
Joseph Putney on the land known as the " Great Meadows," 
now owned by James M. Bailey. They were driven away by 
the Indians for a time. A stone now marks the spot where 
stood the only apple tree spared by the Indians. Probably the 
first boy born in town belonged to one of these families. James 
Rogers was shot by Ebenezer Ayer, who mistook him in the dark 
for a bear, as he wore a bearskin coat. He was the father of 
Major Robert Rogers, celebrated as the leader of the rauger 
corps of the French and Indian wars. 

About 175 1 William Stinson, John Hogg, and Thomas Mills 
settled in the west part of the town. Sarah, daughter of Thom- 
as Mills, was the first girl born in town. Her birthplace was a 
log cabin on the farm now owned by John C. and George F. 
Mills. 

For fourteen years the town was called Starkstown in honor 
of Archibald Stark, one of the first land owners (though not a 
resident), and father of General John Stark, In 1765 the 
town was incorporated, and was named, with a slight change, 



1. Tlio enily wi iters pcnorally rrcditcd Jnmcs RrpoTS ^vlth being of Srnlrh- 
Irisli nalivily, owiiiR 10 ilic fact ili'it liu w.is confiiseil with anot'icr (ler^on of tlio 
same name, who IIvmI in LDiiiIomleny. (Si-f Prunimonil'd "J.mics Itoncrs of 
Duiibai ton ancl .laniHs K'lirers of L'liKlonden-y.") The DtinWarton lloycrs was un- 
(l()iil)ieilly of I'Jii-ilish I iith, 111 which case ilie term " MmiutMloiia," or " Moiiie- 
loiiv," must have hail some other derivation ihau lliat cominoiily ascribed to it. 
— EurruK. 

3. Probably 1759. and the Uirts fimilyat least cime from MassachnRetts. 
Thi-i wita tliii i'utii>:y or I'uduey fatuity seem to have been located in the wluter of 
1S39-1810. — EuiTOK. 



SKETCH OF DUNBARTON, N, H. 3 

for Dumbarton^ in Scotland near which place Stark and other 
emigrants had lived. 

Dunbarton was one of the towns taken from Hillsborough 
County to form the County of Merrimack. Its centennial was 
duly celebrated and attended by a vast concourse of invited 
guests and towns people. A report of its proceedings was com- 
piled by Rev. Sylvanus Hayward. Though small in area and 
population, Dunbarton occupies a large place in the hearts of 
its sons and daughters. However dear our adopted homes may 
become, we still feel that " whatever skies above us rise the 
hills, the hills are home." 

At the centennial Rev. George A. Putnam paid a glowing 
tribute to his native town, saying : " Dunbarton is one of the 
most intelligent and best educated communities in New Eng. 
land. I think it will be hard to find another place where, in 
proportion to its population, so many young men have been 
liberally educated and have entered some of the learned pro- 
fessions, where so many young men and women have become 
first class teachers of common schools. My own observation 
has been altogether in favor of Dunbarton in this particular. 
And it is clear as any historic fact the superior education of 
Dunbarton's children has been largely due to her religious insti- 
tutions and Christian teachers." 

That the town is also honored by her neighbors is shown by 
the following instances : Many years ago it was said that a 
Dartmouth student from an adjoining town, when asked from 
what town he came, answered : " From the town next to Dun- 
barton." Recently the chairman of the school board in Goffs- 
town, in his annual report, compared the town favorably to 
Dunbarton with regard to the number of college graduates. 

Very soon after the permanent settlement of the town, a 
committe was appointed to build a meeiing-house at Dunbar- 
ton Center. It was finished previous to 1767, and stood in the 
middle of the common. Before that time it is related that 

3. From Diiinbrition, the ancient nnme given to a fort raised by the Brittons on 
tlie norlli bauk of ilie Clyile iu cany times. - Euirou. 



4 MANCHESTER HISTORIC COLLECTIONS. 

" Mr. McGregor preached in the open air, on the spot how con- 
secrated as the resting place of the dead." This first building 
was a low, fi-ame structure, without pews, with seats of rbUgh 
planks resting on chestnut logs, and a pulpit constructed of 
rough boards. It was replaced in about twenty years by the 
building now known as the Town House. This was used only 
for political purposes after the erection of the third church on 
the west side of the highway. 

About thirty years ago the interior of the old building was 
greatly changed, the upper part being made into a hall while 
the squ.ire pews were removed from the lower part, only the 
high pulpit remaining. A selectmen's room was finished in one 
corner, and in 1892, a room "for the public library. The outside 
remains practically unchanged. 

The Rocky Hill Church at Amesbury, Mass., much like this 
at Dunbarton, is still used in summer only. There is no way of 
warming it, and people of the present day would not endure 
the hardships their ancestors bore without a murmur. The 
third church was built in 1836 on the site of a dwelling house 
owned by William Stark ; in 1884 it was remodelled, the pews 
modernized and the ceiling frescoed. 

The vestry formerly stood on the opposite of the common 
and contained two rooms; prayer meetings were held in the 
lower room, while up stairs was the only hall in town. There 
were held the singing schools, and the lyceum of long ago ; also 
several fall terms of high schools ; among the teachers were 
Mark Bailey, William E. Bunten, and Henry M. Putney. More 
than twenty-five years ago the vestry was removed to its present 
location near the church and made more convenient and attractive. 

For about nineteen years the church had no settled pastor. 
In 17S9 Walter Harris was called, and was ordained August 26. 
He preached more than forty years Every man in town was re- 
quired to contribute to his support for a time until some of the 
other religious societies rebelled. The " History of Dunbarton " 
says : " Dr. Harris appropriated the proprietors' grant for the 



SKETCH OF DUNBARTON, N. H. ^ 

first settled minister, and located himself on the ministerial lot. 
He also, by a vote of the town, obtained the use of the parson- 
age lot, with an addition of seventy pounds a year, one-half to 
be paid in cash, the other in corn and rye." His farm was 
in a beautiful location ^outh of the center, and was afterwards 
owned for many years by the late Deacon John Paige ; it iS 
now the propery of his son, Lewis Paige. 

In respect to his farm, buildings, fences. Dr. Harris was a 
model for the town. Two men once working for him were try- 
ing to move a heavy log. He told them how to manage accord- 
ing to philosophy ; finally one said : " Well, Dr. Harris, if you 
and your philosophy will take hold of that end of the log while 
Jim and I take this end, I think we can move it." 

Dr. Harris was sometimes called the " Broad axe and sledge- 
hammer of the New Hampshire ministry." He was a man of 
more than ordinary intellectual endowments, and graduated 
from Dartmouth College with high honors. Prof. Charles G. 
Burnham said in his address at the Centennial : *' The influ- 
ence of the life and preaching of Dr. Harris is manifest today 
in every department of your material prosperity, as well as upon 
the moral and religious character of the people, and will be for 
generations to come." 

Dr. Harris was dismissed July 7, 1830, and died December 
25, 1843. His successor, Rev. John M. Putnam, was installed 
the day Dr. Harris was dismissed ; both were remarkable ex- 
temporaneous speakers. Mr. Putnam v\as called one of the 
besi platform speakers in his profession in the State. 

At the close of his pastorate he went to reside with his son at 
Yarmouth, Maine ; he died in Elyria, Ohio, in 1871. He was 
dismissed the day his successor, Sylvanus Hayward, was or- 
dained. Thus for more than 77 )^ars the church was not for 
one day without a settled pastor. Mr. Hayward was born in 
Gilsum, N. H., and has written a history of his native town ; 
he was dismissed April, 1866. His successors were Revs. 
George I. Bard, William E. Spear, who is now a lawyer in 



b MANCHESTER HISTORIC COLLECTIONS. 

Boston, and at present Secretary of the Spanish War Claim 
Commission, James Wells now deceased. Tilton C. H. Bou- 
ton, grandson of Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Bouion, for many years 
pastor of the North Church, Concord, N. H., George Sterling, 
Avery K. Gleason, and William A. Bushee. During Mr. 
Bouton's pastorate a parsonage was built in the north part of 
the village on land given by Deacon Daniel H. Parker. 

The first deacons were chosen in 1790, and were James 
Clement and Edward Russell. Others were Samuel Burnham, 
David Alexander, John Church, Matthew S. McCurdy, John 
Wilson, John Mills, Samuel Burnham (a namesake of the first 
of the name), who with Daniel H. Parker served for many 
years. They were succeeded by Frederic L, Ireland and 
Frank C. Woodbury, the present incumbents. 

Church discipline was very strict in ye olden time. What 
would the people of the present day think of being called to 
account for such a small matter as this? "A complaint was pre- 
sented to the church by one brother against another for un- 
Christian-like behavior in suffering himself lo be carried in a 
light and vain manner upon a man's shoulders to the length of 
a quarter of a mile. The church accepted the complaint, and 
summoned the brother before it. He appeared, confessed his 
fault and was pardoned," 

Deacon McCurdy was noted for his strictness in keeping the 
Sabbath. No food could be cooked in the house on that 
day, and no work done at the barn except milking and feeding 
the stock. He once, however, mistook the day of the week, 
and took a grist to mill on Sunday, while his wife began the 
the Saturday's baking. On arriving at the mill, he, of course, 
found it closed, and on going to the miller's house, he learned 
his mistake. He was so shocked that he would not leave his 
grist, but carried it back home. 

The Haptist Church was organized in Mountalona in 1828. 
The first meeting house was built by Aaron Elliot, and Isaac 
Westcott was the first pastor. In the Spring of 1847 meetings 
were held at the Center ; Rev. John W. Poland (since fa- 



SKETCH OF DUNBARTON, N. H. 7 

mous as the maker of " White Pine Compound ") preached dur- 
ing that season. The next year a church was built. 

The pastors were Revs. H. D. Hodges (who, with Rev. 
John Putnam, compiled a grammar), Samuel Cook, Horace 
Eaton, Jesse M Coburn, Washington Coburn, John Peacock 
(as a supply), Stephen Pillsbury, Timothy B Eastman, Elias 
Whittemore, Samuel Woodbury, Adoniram J Hopkins, Dr. 
Lucien Hayden, J. J. Peck, Charles Willand, and the present in- 
cumbent, S. H. Bufifam. This list may not be exactly correct. 
At intervals no services have been held. Nathaniel Wheeler, 
John O. Merrill and John Paige were deacons for many years. 
In 1899 the house was painied and otherwise improved. 

The old house at Mountalona was used at times by the Bap- 
tists. Methodist services were also held there. It was burned 
about seventeen years ago. 

A Universalist society was formed in 1830 by Nathan Gutter- 
son, Joshua F. Hoyt, Silas Burnham, Alexander Gilchrist 
and others and services were held in the old Congrega- 
tional Church. Rev. Nathan R. Wright preached here for four 
years and lived in a house near the late John C. Ray's which 
was burned about 30 years ago. It was afterwards known as the 
Hope house from Samuel B Hope, one of the owners. Mr.Wright 
was the father of Hon. Carroll D. Wright who was horn in 1840. 
The family removed from town when he was three years of age. 

In 1864 or 1865 Episcopal Church services were hsld by 
clergymen from St. Paul's School in school houses in the west 
part of the town, afterwards in the Hope house. In the summer 
of 1866 the corner stone of the church was laid on land given by 
the Misses Stark. The money to build the church was collected 
by their grand neice. Miss Mary Stark, a devoted churchwoman, 
who died in 1881. The church is a lasting memorial of her. It 
is a beautiful building with a seating capacity of no. The 
fine chancel window was given by the father of the Rector of 
St. Paul's School. The church was consecrated in 1868, and 
named the Church of St John the Evangelist. For abDUt four- 
teen years the services were in charge of Rev. Joseph H. Coit, 



8 MANCHESTER HISTORIC COLLECTIONS. 

the present rector of St. Paul's School. He was succeeded by 
Rev. Edward M. Parker, a master of the school, who with the 
assistance of Mr. William VV. Flint, lay preacher, holds services 
in Dunbarton and Eist VVeare. In 1890 the church was taken 
down and re-erected in North Dunbarton on land given by 
David Sargent souh of the school-house, in front of a beautiful 
pine grove. A service of re dedication was held december 15, 
1890. Frank B. Mills was organist and leader of the singing 
with only a short interval until his removal from town in 1895, 
The organist at the present time is Miss Sara E. Perkins. 

After the removal of the church, a brass tablet in memory of 
the Misses Harriet and Charlotte Stark was placed therein by 
Rev. Joseph H. Coit. 

Dunbarton has had many fine musicians within her borders. 
Col. Samuel B. Hammond led the singing in the Congregational 
Church for a long term of years, resigning in 1875. ^'^^ choir 
was formerly large and numbered among its members Mrs. 
Elizabeth (Whipple) Brown, her daughter, Mrs. Agnes French, 
Olive CaldArell, now Mrs. Morrill of Minnesota, the daughters 
of the late Deacon Parker, Mrs. Harris Wilson, Nathaniel T. 
Safiford, William S. Twiss, and others. 

Before the advent of the cabinet organ instrumental music 
was furnished b/ a double bass viol played by Harris Wilson, 
a single bass-viol played by Eben Kimball, a melodeon played 
by Andrew TwisSj and one or two violins. When the church 
was remodeled the organ and choir were removed from the gal- 
lery to a place beside the pulpit. Mrs. Mary (Wilson) Bunten 
is now organist. For several years a quartette, consisting 
of William S. Twiss, Frank B. Mills, Horace Caldwell, and 
Frederic L. Ireland sang most acceptably on many occasions, 
especially furnishing appropriate music at funerals, until the 
removal from town of Mr. Twiss in 1884. At various times 
signing schools were taught by Eben Kimball, Joseph C. Cram 
of Deerfield, " Uncle Ben " Davis of Concord, and at Page's 
Corner, by Frank B. Mills. 

The first School houses in town were few and far between, 



SKETCH OF DUNBARTON, N. H. » 

with no free transportation as practiced at the present time. 
Hon. Albert S. Batchellor, of Littleton, in searching the col- 
umns of a file of old newspapers recently, came across the fol- 
lowing which will be of interest to Dunbarton people : 

" Dunbarton May ye 15, 1787. 
We the subscribers Promise to pay to Mrs. Sarah Ayers 
Young three shillings per week for five Months to Teach school 
seven or Eight Hours Each Day Except Sunday & Saturday 
half a day, to be paid in Butter at half Pifterreen per lb. flax 
the same or Rie at 4 shillings, Corn at 3s. Each. Persons to 
pay their Proportion to what scollers they sign for Witness Our 
Hands. Thomas Hannette 2 Scollers Thomas Husfe i Jame- 
son Galley 2 Andrew fofter i John Bunton 3 John Fulton 2 " 
Before 1805 Dunbarton had three school districts. The first 
house was at the Center. Rev. Abraham W. Burnham, of 
Rindge, in response to the toast, "Our Early Inhabitants," at 
the Centennial, said : " My brother Samuel, when so young 
that my mother was actually afraid the bears would catch him, 
walked two miles to school." This same boy was the first col- 
lege graduate from town, in the class of 1795. Robert Hogg, 
called Master Hogg, was the first male teacher, and Sarah 
Clement the first female teacher. 

Another teacher of the long ago was Master John Fulton, 
who lived on the farm now owned by John W. Farrar. In 
those days pupils often tried to secure a holiday by " barring 
out" the teacher on New Year's Day. More than once 
Master John Fulton found himself in this situation. On one 
occasion he went to one of the neighbors where he borrowed a 
tall white hat and a long white coat with several capes. 
Thus disguised he mounted a white horse and rode rapidly to 
the school house. The unsuspecting pupils rushed to the 
door, when, quick as thought. Master Fulton sprang from the 
horse, entered the school house and called the school to order. 
At another time, while teaching in a private house in Bow, find- 
ing himself " barred out," he entered a chamber window by 
a ladder, removed some loose boards from the floor (the 
house being unfinished) and descended among his astonished 



10 « MANCHESTER HISTORIC COLLECTIONS. 

pupils. Dr. Harris regularly visited the schools, and catechised 
the children ; he prepared many young men for college and 
directed the theological studies of those fitting for the ministry. 

Many clergymen of the town served on the school committee. 
Districts increased in number till there were eleven. In 1867 the 
town system was adopted, and the number of schools reduced 
to four or five. Notwithstanding the short terms, the long dis- 
tances, and lack of text-books (now provided by the town). Dun- 
barton has produced many fine scholars, and has provided 
a large number of teachers for her own and other schools. 

I think no family has furnished as many educated members 
as the Burnhams. A short time prior to 1775 Deacon Samuel 
Burnham came from Essex, Mass., to the south part of Dunbar- 
ton. Of his thirteen children, four sons graduated at Dartmouth 
College. In 1865 fourteen of his grand and great grand child- 
ren were college graduates. Not all of them lived in Dunbar- 
ton, but Samuel's son, Bradford, and most of his children lived 
here. Henry Larcom, son of Bradford, was a successful teach- 
er and land surveyor ; he represented the town in the Legisla- 
ture and was also State Senator, The last years of his life 
were passed in Manchester where he died in 1893. His son, 
Henry Eben, is a lawyer in Manchester, and was for a time 
Judge of Probate. He was born November 8, 1844, in the Dr. 
Harris house, and is an honored son of Dunbarton, He was 
elected United States Senator by the Legislature of 1901, for 
the term of six years and succeeded Senator William E. Chandler. 

Hannah, eldest daughter of Bradford Burnham, married 
Samuel Burnham from Essex, Mass ; she died in November, 
1901. Her two daughters were teachers for many years ; the 
younger, Annie M., taught in Illinois and Oregon until recently. 
Two sons were college graduates, Josiah, ai Amherst in 1867; 
William H., at Harvard in 1882. The latter is instructor in 
Clark University, Worcester, and a writer and lecturer of great 
ability. A daughter of his brother, Samuel G. Burnham of 
St. Louis, graduated from Washington University with high 
honors, ranking second in a class of eighty-two. 



SKETCH OF DUNBARTON, N. H. 11 

" Three sons of Henry Putney were students at Dartmouth 
College, though the second son, Frank, did not graduate, 
leaving college to enter the army in 1861. 

Thirty or more of the sons of Dunbarton graduated at Dart- 
mouth College, while ten or twelve others took a partial course. 
John Gould, Jr., and Abel K. Wilson, died at college, Three 
graduated at Wabash College, Indiana, two at Union College, 
Schenectady, N. Y., and oue each at Yale, Harvard, and Am- 
herst Colleges, and Brown University, It is said that at one 
time there were more students from Dunbarton in Dartmouth 
College than from any other town in the State. 

There have been several graduates from Normal Schools, 
Ralph Ireland and Ethel Jameson from the school at Bridge- 
water, Mass. The former is now teaching in Gloucester, Mass., 
and the latter in Boston, Mass. Ella and Leannette L. Mills 
(the latter the daughter of Leroy R. Mills,, graduated from the 
school at Salem, Mass. Lydia Marshall, now holding a gov- 
ernment position in Washington, D. C, Mary Caldwell (now 
Mrs, Aaron C. Barnard), and Lizzie Bunten (now Mrs. James 
P. Tuttle, of Manchester), took a partial or whole course at the 
school at Plymouth, N. H. Louise Parker and Mary A. Stin- 
son graduated at Kimball Academy, Meriden, N. H. Miny 
others have been students at McCollom Institute, Mount Ver- 
non, Pembroke, and other academies, and several have taken 
the course at the Concord High School. Among the teachers of 
the long ago may be named Antoinette Putnam, Lizzie and Ann 
Burnham, Jane Stinson, Nancy Stinson, Sarah and Marianne 
Parker, and Susan and Margaret Holmes. The list is too long 
for further mention. 

Among college graduates who made teaching their life work 
were William Parker, who died in Winchester, Illinois, in 1865 ; 
Caleb Mills, who was connected with Wabash College, Indiana, 
from 1833 until his death in 1879. He was greatly interested 
in the cause of education, and was known as the father of pub- 
lic schools in Indiana ; Joseph Gibson Hoyt, who was called 
the most brilliant son Dunbarton ever educated ; he taught sev- 

L.ofC. 



12 MANCHESTER HISTORIC COLLECTIONS. 

eral years in Phillips Academy, Exeter, and was Chancellor of 
Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, taking charge Feb- 
ruary 4, 1859 ; inaugurated October 4, 1859 ; died November 26, 
1862 ; Charles G. Burnham, orator at the Centennial, in 1865, 
who died in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1866 ; Mark Bailey, who 
has taught elocution at Yale since 1855, besides spending some 
weeks of each year in former times at Dartmouth, Princeton, and 
other places. Samuel Burnham, the first graduate, should have 
been mentioned earlier. He was principal of the academy at 
Derry for many years ; William E. Bunten taught in Atkinson, 
N. H., Marblehead, Mass., and in New York, where he died in 
1897 ; Matthew S. McCurdy, grandson and namesake of Dea- 
con McCurdy, is instructor at Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass, 
Although not a college student, John, brother of Thomas and 
James F. Mills, spent many years in teaching in Ohio and West 
Virginia; he died in 1S79. Among those who have been both 
teachers and journalists are Amos Hadley of Concord, Henry 
M. Putney, now on the editorial stafif of the Manchester Daily 
and Weekly Mirror; William A. (brother of Henry M) who 
died some years ago in Fairmount, Nebraska; and John B. 
Mills, now at Grand Rapids, Michigan. George H. Twiss, of 
Columbus, Ohio, has been a teacher, superintendent of schools, 
and proprietor of a bookstore. 

Of the native clergymen, Leonard S. Parker is probably the 
oldest now living. He has held several pastorates, and is now 
assistant pastor of the Shepard Memorial Church, Cambridge, 
Mass, One of the early college graduates was Isaac Garvin, 
son of Sam Garvin, whose name was a by word among his 
neighbors ; " as shiftless as Sam Garvin " was a common say- 
ing. Isaac obtained his education under difficulties which 
would have discouraged most men, and at first even Dr. Harris 
thinking it not worth wihle to help him. He probably studied 
divinity with Dr. Harris, and was ordained in the Congrega- 
tional Church, but late in life took orders in the Episcopal 
Church in New York, There were two Rev, Abraham Burn- 
hams, uncle and nephew, and Rev. Amos W. Burnham, whose 



SKETCH OF DUNBARTON, N. H. 13 

only pastorate was Rindge where he preached forty-six years. 
Thomas Jameson held pastorates In Scarborough and Gorham, 
Maine ; he was blind during his last years, Charles H. Mar- 
shall preached in various places in Indiana, and died nearly thir- 
ty years ago. Ephraim O. Jameson held several pastorates ; he 
is now retired and living in Boston. He has compiled several 
genealogies and town histories. Rev. George A. Putnam, son 
of the second pastor (jf the church in Dunbarton, preached for 
several years in Yarmouth, Maine, then went to Milibury, Mass., 
in 187 1, where he itill resides — an unusually long pastorate 
in these times, John P. Mills is preaching in Michigan. 

Of the native Baptist ministers were Hosea Wheeler, Harri- 
son C. Page, who died at Newton Theological Seminary just 
before the completion of his course, and who gave promise of 
great ability; and the brothers Joel and Christie Wheeler who 
entered the ministry without a collegiate education^ and both 
preached in Illinois. 

Though the people of Dunbarton are too peaceable and hon- 
est to need the services of a lawyer, at least a dozen young men 
entered the legal profession. One of the earliest college 
graduates, Jeremiah Stinson, having studied law, opened an 
office in his native town, but devoted the most of his time to 
agriculture. He met with an accidental death at the age of 
thirty-six year?. Among those who continued to practice law 
were John Burnham in Hillsborough, John Jameson in Maine, 
John Tenney in Methuen, Mass., Judge Joseph M. Cavis in 
California, David B. Kimball in Salem, Mass., Newton H. Wil- 
son in Duluth, Minn., and Henry £. Burnham in Manchester. 
Only the three last named are now living. 

The people of Dunbarton are proud of the fact that there 
has been no resident physician in town for more than forty 
years. The last, a Dr. Gilson, was here for a short time only. 
Dr. Dugall was probably the first; while others were Doctors 
Symnes Sawyer, Clement, Mighill, Stearns, and Merrill. 

True Morse was a seventh son ; so was Rev, Mr. Putnam, 
but he refused to use his supposed powers. Among the native 



14 MANCHESTER HISTORIC COLLECTIONS. 

physicians were Abram B. Story, who died not long since in 
Manchester, William Ryder, John L, Colby, Oilman Leach, 
David P. Goodhue, a surgeon in the Navy, John and Charles 
Mills. The two last named practiced in Champaign, Illinois, 
and were living there when last heard from. William Caldwell 
is well remembered as a veterinary surgeon. 

Of dentists we may name John B, Prescott, D, D. S., of 
Manchester, a graduate of Pennsylvania Dental College, and 
the late Dr. Edward Ryder of Portsmouth. 

Nothwithstanding this exodus of professional men and others, 
many good and wise men made the place their home. Deacon 
John Mills was town treasurer for thirty five years, selectman 
twenty-two years, and representative eight years. He built the 
house afterwards owned by his son-in law, Deacon Daniel H. 
Parker, who was also a good citizen ; as Justice of the Peace, 
he transacted much law business and settled many estates ; he 
held many town offices, was a thrifty farmer, and accumulated a 
large fortune. 

Henry Putney, of the fourth generation from the first settler 
of that name, was another strong man, who with Deacon Par- 
ker and Eliphalet Sargent formed a board of selectmen in the 
troubled limes of the Civil War, that did good service for the 
town. His only daughter is the wife of Nahum J. Bachelder, 
secretary of State Board of Agriculture. He had six sons, five 
of whom are now living. 

The name of Oliver Bailey has been known in town for several 
generations. The present representative of that name is one 
of the elder men of the town, a thrifty farmer, and was formerly 
in company with his son, George O Bailey, a cattle dealer on a 
large scale. His brother, James M. Bailey, still owns part of 
the paternal acres. Their father, Oliver Bailey, removed late 
in life, to Bow Mills, where he died in 1889. John C. Ray 
owned a beautiful home in the west part of the town ; he was 
superintendent of th2 State Industrial School in Manchester 
for about twenty-five years before his death in 189S. 
The brothers, Captain Charles and William C. Stinson, were 



SKETCH OF DUNBARTON, N. H. 15 

wealthy farmers in the south part of the town ; the former re- 
moved to Gofifstown, and his farm is owned by Philander Lord. 
The house is probably one of the oldest in town. The last 
years of William C. Stinson were spent in Manchester. Harris 
E. Ryder was the first Master of Stark Grange which was or- 
ganized in October, 1874. His buildings were burned in 1875, 
and not long afterwards he located in Bedford, where he died. 
His brother, Charles G. B. Ryder, served on the school com- 
mittee for several years. He removed to Manchester many 
years ago and was engaged in the real estate business for many 
years ; he died there several years ago. The buildings on his 
farm were burned in July, 1899. 

Major Caleb, son of General John Stark, built a house in 
the west part of the town which is still owned by the family 
and is filled with interesting relics. His son, Caleb, was the 
author of the " History of Dunbarton," published in i860. He 
and two unmarried sisters spent much time here, the last survi- 
vor, Miss Charlotte, dying in 1889, aged about ninety years. 
She was a fine specimen of the old time gentlewoman, much 
given to hospitality. The place is now owned in part by her 
grand nephew, Charles F. M. Stark, a descendant on the 
mother's side from Robert Morris, the great financier of Revo- 
lutionary times. His only son, John McNiel Stark, graduated 
from Holderness School, June, 1900. The Stark cemetery is a 
beautiful and well kept resting place of the dead. Besides 
Stark, the names of Winslow, Newell, and McKinstry are seen 
on the headstones. Benjamin Marshall, and his son, Enoch, 
were prominent men in town. Many other names should be 
mentioned, but space forbids. 

The daughters of Dunbarton are not less worthy of mention 
than her sons. Some of the teachers have already been men- 
tioned. Another was Marianne, sister of Deacon Parker, who 
married a Doctor Dascomb and went with him to Oberlin, Ohio, 
where he became profe. sor of chemistry in Oberlin College. 
She was lady principal. It was said that there were two saints 
in the Oberlin calendar, President Finney and Mrs. Dascomb. 



16 ^ MANCHESTER HISTORIC COLLECTIONS. 

Three of her sisters married ministers. Ann married Rev. 
Isaac Bird, and went with him to Turkey as a missionary; and 
Emily married Rev. James Kimball of Oakham, Mass. ; and 
Martha, Rev. Thomas Tenney ; one of her daughters is the wife 
of the late Rev. Cyrus Hamlin. Two of Deacon Parker's 
daughters are the wives of ministers. Louise is Mrs. Lucien H. 
Frary of Pomona, California, and Abby is Mrs. John L. R. 
Trask of Springfield, Mass. Dr. Trask has been for many 
years trustee of Mt. Holyoke College. 

Mary, daughter of Deacon John Mills, married Rev. Mr. 
William Patrick of Boscawen ; Dr. Mary Mills Patrick, President 
of the American College for Girl sat Constantinople, is her step,^ 
daughter and namesake. Sarah, daughter of Benjamin Mar- 
shall, married Caleb Mills who studied theology, though his 
life work was teaching. Mary F., daughter of Deacon John 
Paige, married Rev. David Webster, now of Lebanon, Maine, 
Mary L., daughter of John Kimball of Milford, formerly of Dun- 
barton, has been for more than ten years the wife of Rev. Arthur 
Remington, now in Philadelphia. Perhaps the latest addition 
to the list is Hannah C , eldest daughter of Horace Caldwell, 
who, January, 1899, married Rev. Avery A. K. Gleason, then 
pastor of the Congregational Church in Dunbarton, now Rayn- 
ham, Mass. 

Mary A. daughter of Captain Charles Stinson, married 
Charles A. Pillsbury, known as the flour king of Minneapolis^ 
who died more than a year ago. 

Though the rough and rocky soil is poorly adapted to culti- 
vation, Dunbarton is, and always has been, emphatically a 
farming town. Yet a long list of mechanics might be given. 
Carpenters, blacksmiths, painters and masons still ply their 
trades, but the mill wrights, shoemakers, tanners, coopers, tail- 
ors, tailoresses, and pump makers are people of the past. Less 
than fifty years ago a tannery was in operation at the place 
owned by Benjamin Fitts, and a good sized pond covered the 
space opposite the house of Justus Lord. It was used on sev- 
eral occasions by the Baptists as a place of immersion. 



SKETCH OF DUNBARTON, N. H. 



17 



William Tenney was the carpenter who built the town hall ; 
Captain Samuel Kimball, the present Congregational Church, 
and many dwelling houses. Others were the work of John 
Leach. The man now living who has done more of this work 
than any other is John D. Bunten, whose work has always been 
done in a thorough manner. 

The stone blacksmith shop of Jonathan Waite has been used 
by three generations, now only for the family work. John B. 
Ireland still uses the shop of his father, while Lauren P. Had- 
ley's specialty is iron work on wagons. During the past few 
years much timber has been removed by the aid of portable 
St. am mills. 

The first store in town was kept by Major Caleb Stark at 
Page's Corner. He had several successors, among them being 
Jeremiah Page and John Kimball. At the Center I find, in the 
" History of Dunbarton," a long list of store-keepers, among 
whom was David Tenney, one of whose ledgers is still pre- 
served, where the entries of New England rum sold to the most 
respectable citizens are as numerous as tea and coffee now- 
a-days. 

Deacon Burnham kept the store for many years, and later 
Thomas Wilson ar^d his son Oliver kept the store. The latter 
also did considerable business as a photographer for a time. 
His son in law, John Bunten, is the present proprietor of the 
store. The business has increased greatly with the sending out 
of teams to take orders and deliver goods in various parts of the 
town. 

Among the successful business men who have left town may 
be named Lyman W, Colby, who was a successful photographer 
in Manchester for more than thirty years, and whose recent 
sudden death is greatly to be deplored by his many friends ; John 
C. Stinson, a merchant of Gloucester, N. J. ; Samuel G. Burn- 
ham of St. Louis, Missouri : and the late Fred D. Sargent, 
owner of a restaurant in St. Paul, Minn., where he furnished meals 
to 500 people daily, and to many more on extra occasions. He 
had also a branch establishment at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, of 



18 " MANCHESTER HISTORIC COLLECTIONS. 

which his brother, Frank H. Sargent is manager. For several 
years a newspaper was published by Oscar H. A. Chamberlen, 
called The Snow-Flake, afterwards The Analecta. 

The first library in town was kept at the house of Benjamin 
Whipple, and was called the Dunbarton Social Library, Some 
of the books are still preserved. A parish library, containing 
many valuable works, was collected by Miss Mary Stark, and 
was for many years the source of pleasure and profit to the 
attendants at St. John's Church. Some years after her death 
the books were given to a Library Association, formed at the 
Center, which in turn was merged with the Public Library, 
founded in 1892, of which Miss Hannah K. Caldwell was, till 
her marriage, the efficient librarian. The position is now filled 
by Mabel Kelly. A library is also owned by Stark Grange. 

For the past thirty years or more, many summer boarders 
have come to Dunbarton. The houses of James M. Bailey, 
William B, Burnham, and Peter Butterfield, were well filled for 
several years, while at many other places some people were 
accommodated. At the present time two houses at the Center, 
owned by Henry P. Kelly, are filled every summer ; also the 
house of Frank C. Woodbury, the former home of Deacon Par- 
ker on the " hill beautiful," where " glorious golden summers 
wax and wane, where radiant autumns all their splendors shed." 

The pure air of Dunbarton seems to be conducive to long 
life. Two citizens passed the century mark. Mrs. Joseph 
Leach died in 1849, aged 102 years, 9 months. Mrs. Achsah 
P. (Tenney) Whipplelived to the age of 100 years, g months. 
Her centp.cnial birthday was celebrated June 28, 1886, by a 
large gathefiflg of relatives and friends. Her only daughter 
married Joseph A Gilmore, for many years Superintendent of 
the Concord Railroad, and also Governor of New Hampshire. 
Her grand daughter was the first wife of Hon. William E. Chan- 
dler, who, doubtless, has pleasant recollections of his visits to 
his betrothed at the home of her grandparents. 

Among the residents of the town who attained the age of 
90 years or more were Mrs. Mary Story, 98 years, 4 months, 12 



SKETCH OF DUNBARTON, N. H, 19 

days ; Mrs. Ann C, widow of Deacon John Wilson, 98 years ; 
Deacon John Church, 97 years; Mrs. Abigail (Burnham) Ire- 
land, 94 years ; There were several others whose ages I do not 
know. Mr. and Mrs. Guild, near the Bow line, I think were 
over 90 years. Many have passed the age of 80 years. Dea- 
con Samuel Burnham is now 88 years ; he and his wife lived 
together mote than 63 years. Mr. and Mrs. James Stone lived 
together more than 65 years. Mrs. Stone survived her husband 
only a few weeks. Colonel Samuel B. Hammond and wife cel- 
ebrated their golden wedding in 1892. 

Stark Grange is the only secret society in town, though some 
individuals belong to societies in adjoining towns. The mem- 
bership of Stark Grange is about ninety. 

The patriotism of the town has always been unquestioned. 

Dunbarton has sent her sons to battle for the right in every 
war. Seventeen men took part in the French and Indian War, 
including Major Robert Rogers, and other men by the names 
of Rogers, Stark.. McCurdy. and others. 

In the Revolutionary Army were fifty-seven from Dunbarton, 
including the brothers John and Thomas Mills, William Beard, 
and others. Caleb Stark, afterwards a resident, though very 
youug, was with his father at Bunker Hill. 

Henry L. Burnham used to tell a story of a cave on the 
farm which was his home for many years (now owned by John 
Haynes) which once sheltered a deserter from the Revolution- 
ary Army. The man afterwards went to the northern part of 
the State, and at the very hour of his death, d iring a heavy 
thunder shower, the entrance to the cave was ( osed so cony- 
pleteiy that the most diligent search has failed to discover any 
trace of it. 

In the war of 181 2, eleven enlisted, and twelve were drafted. 
Probably Benjamin Bailey was the last survivor. Among those 
who went to the Mexican War were Benjamin Whipple and 
Charles G. Clement. 

Dunbarton sent more than fifty men to the Civil War; sev- 
eral sent substitutes. To three men were given captain's com- 



20 ' MANCHESTER HISTORIC COLLECTIONS. 

missions, namely^ William E. Bunten, Henry M. Caldwell, who 
died of fever in Falmouth, Va., in 1862, and Andrew J. Stone, 
who was killed at the Battle of the Wilderness in 1864. Mar- 
cus M. Holmes returned a lieutenant and Horace Caldwell was 
orderly sargeant ; Wilbur F. Brown died of starvation at Ander- 
sonville, and Benjamin Twiss narrowly escaped a like fate at 
Libby Prison. He was suffocated in a mine in the Far West not 
very long ago. 

Two young men went to the Spanish-American War who 
were born in Dunbarton, and had lived here the larger part of 
their lives, namely, William J. Sawyer, who enlisted in the New 
Hampshire Regiment from Concord, and Fred H Mills, who 
enlisted at Marlboro, Mass., in the Sixth Massachusetts Regi- 
ment, He died in Goffstown, June 26, 1900, of disease con- 
tracted in the army. 

No railroad touches the town, and probably never will, but 
an electric car route over the hill has been prophesied. 

The mail has always come by way of Concord, and the car- 
rier's wagon has furnished transportation for many people. 
Hon William E. Chandler drove the mail wagon for a time some 
fifty years ago. The postoffice was first established in 181 7, 
at the Center; another at North Dunbarton in 1834 ; a third 
at East Dunbarton in 1883. In 1899 the free rural delivery 
system was adopted, giving general satisfaction to the residents. 

I have written chiefly of the past history of the to'vn, but I 
think I may say that the people of the presentday are endeavor- 
ing to maintain as good a reputation as their ancestors. 




014 013 638 4 ^ 



